Asian Boxing Championship: Pakistan target at least semi-final berths

Pugilist Qadir Khan to make a comeback after five years.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s eight-member boxing squad is aiming for at least a semi-final berth at the AIBA Asian Championship, with Lyari boxer Qadir Khan all set to make a comeback after five years when the contingent leaves for Bangkok, Thailand on Monday.

The 25-year-old Qadir believes he has a good chance of progressing to the World Championships that will take place in Doha, Qatar later this year.

“The event is going to be my comeback after five years, so it’s the opportunity for me and for Pakistan boxing too,” Qadir, who competes in the 60kg category, told The Express Tribune after his training session. “The Asian Championship is also a qualifying round for the World Championships. We’ve been training hard in Karachi and now my moment of stepping in the ring at an international event is coming closer. I’m excited.”

Qadir recalled that his last event was the 2010 Commonwealth Games, while he has also borne the brunt of internal conflicts between two rival factions of the Pakistan Boxing Federation for the last few years.

“I couldn’t compete in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games because of the two parties fighting,” said Qadir, who made his international debut in 2005 in Azerbaijan. “But this time it’s different. This is the first step towards entering the 2016 Olympics. It would also open doors for Pakistani boxers internationally.”

The qualifiers from Asian Championship will compete in the worlds, which in turn will serve as the 2016 Rio Olympics qualifying round.

The other boxers in the squad are Mohibullah in the 49kg category, Nadir Baloch (46kg), Gulzaib (64kg), Muhammad Tanveer (69kg), Waseem Arshad (75kg), Awais Ali Khan (81kg) and Mehmoodul Hussain (91kg).

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.

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